| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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Background: Bellamya bengalensisis
an important bioresource of the freshwater ecosystem of India. This
edible mollusc is filter feeder, indigenous diet of human, poultry and
fishery. Natural habitat of this freshwater gastropod mollusc bears the
risk of contamination by agricultural pesticide fenvalerate, a
synthetic type II pyrethroid. Hemocytes are the immuno effector cells
of molluscs which are affected by environmental toxins or pathogenic
microorganisms. Hemocytes perform various types of immunological
functions such as phagocytosis, cytotoxic response etc.
Results: Experimental exposure
of fenvalerate resulted in impairment of phagocytic efficacy and
alteration in the generation of phenoloxidase in B. bengalensis.
Conclusion: The alteration of
phagocytic response and generation of phenoloxidase of hemocytes,
exposed to experimental concentrations of fenvalerate under static
laboratory condition have been determined to establish as biomarker of
aquatic toxicity in toxin contaminated natural habitat.
Key words: Fenvalerate, Mollusc, Phagocytosis, Phenoloxidase
